To explain the strange (at first glance) proposal and request which we and the Central Committee are addressing to you, it is necessary to explain the position of our party.

To clarify this position, it is necessary to understand, firstly, the fact of the ferocity of the counter-revolution and the terrible collapse of Social-Democratic organization and Social-Democratic work; secondly, the fundamental ideological-political currents in our party.

On the first question, it is sufficient to note the enormous decline of organizations everywhere, the near cessation of activity in many places. A wholesale flight of the intelligentsia. There remained only circles of workers and isolated individuals. With difficulty does the young, inexperienced worker forge a path for himself.

On the second question. In the revolution, the Social-Democrats had two currents (and two factions, *tatsachlich Spaltung**): Mensheviks and Bolsheviks. Stockholm 1906 and London 1907.223 Opportunist and revolutionary wing.

The collapse of 1907-8 gave rise to (α) liquidationism among the Mensheviks (definition), (β) among the Bolsheviks - otzovism (and ultramativism). Definition.

* On the grounds that our funds are limited and that the question is exclusively confined to the conflict, the split abroad.

** - in fact, a split. Ed.

(.) Beginning from March 08, the Mensheviks absolutely refused to participate in the party's central work and even attempted to sabotage it (August 08). Abroad they had dominance (students, immature bourgeois intelligentsia, etc.). A complete split abroad (owing to the Mensheviks) and their total non-participation in party work plus struggle against the party.

The Conference of December 08 denounces this.223

(.) Otzovism-ultramativism among the Bolsheviks in 1908-9. Resolute struggle against it by the Bolsheviks and the *Kaltstellung* of the otzovists-ultramativists. Removal.

The collapse in Russia grows.

Plekhanov's statement of August 09 (("What do you wish"224, liquidationism of "Golos"; declaration of liquidationism as petty-bourgeois opportunism; recognition of the party crisis as a terrible illness; departure from the editorial board of "Social Movement," housed in a *burgerlich-liberalen Verlag**)).

The significance of Plekhanov's statement = a weak echo, confirming to the factional enemies of the Bolsheviks all their accusations.

The Mensheviks' pull in Russia toward the party (especially workers: Petersburg, Moscow).

An attempt at party unification on this basis, on the recognition of struggle on two fronts: against liquidationism and otzovism-ultramativism.

Conditions for unification on our side: unconditional recognition of the struggle against liquidationism (half-measure of the Central Committee: personal concession); cessation of factional struggle (= the split abroad especially) and loyal subordination to the party majority (Bolsheviks + Poles in particular), which has pulled the party out of the crisis of 1907-9 and placed it on the path of resolute struggle on two fronts.

The Mensheviks' conditions: obscuring the clear definition of liquidationism (half-measure in a unanimous resolution) and equality in the editorial board of the Central Organ ((in fact, the dominant all-party

* - removal. Ed.

** - bourgeois-liberal publishing house. Ed.